What is the benefit of Fuchs 7s and 8s over 6s and 7s if same 205/225 combo is used?

[robofc]

Hi,

I have 15 inch tires on my 87 carrera and am looking for new fuchs. What is the benefit of going to a 7 and 8 if the same 205 55 16 and 225 40 16 combo is typically used on both? Do you go up to a 225 on the front with 7s and 8s? If so, what do you put on the rear?

And is it necessary to roll the fender lips? If so, do they crack?

If anyone has fuchs in great condition please let me know.

[KNS]

With the same tires, less tire sidewall flex. The 7s and 8s give you a wider stance as well.

[robofc]

Does that mean it will be harsher if my roads a pocked and twisty? I live in Marin and typically drive on very windy forested roads with lots of bumps from roots and and have a rough texture. It is important for there to be a lot of compliance in the suspension. I drive very hard but a track setup will just send me skittering over the top, out of contact with the road.

[777joee]

It's all about options. I'm not so sure you will see less sidewall flex using the same tire and the same air pressure. You will however move out the sides of the same tire you will have a better contact patch on the outside edges by putting more force on the outer edge. While that might be great in the rear it will also slow down your steering at low speeds making it a bit harder.

Good bad you decide.........

[88-diamondblue]

From what you say, the 15's i'm assuming they are 7 x 8's, would be to stay with the 15's and use a 205/60 front and a 215/60 on the rear. The Bridgestone RE960 Pole Position come in these sizes and have had very good reviews here on Pelican. I had these sizes on my 88 but wanted sticky summer only tires and moved to 17" Rota Fox. I still use my 15's for track and auto-x with VictoRacers's. For the price of the tires you can try these for a year and if you don't like them then go to 16 or 17's and not be out anything. 16" performance tire are dwindling quickly as the 15's did.

Here is a link to the tires Tire Search Results

[redranger]

Not sure about 15" rims, but for 16s, you can put 245s on the rear with the 8s and 225s in the front. For the street, not much reason to change. For the track, 8s or 9s in the back and 7s in front is a better set up.

[tobluforu]

Where in Marin do you live as I lived there up until 2.5 years ago, grew up in Ross.

[McLovin]

The biggest benefit, by far, is cosmetic.

[Halm]

Originally Posted by redranger

Not sure about 15" rims, but for 16s, you can put 245s on the rear with the 8s and 225s in the front. For the street, not much reason to change. For the track, 8s or 9s in the back and 7s in front is a better set up.

Maybe. Those sizes work bests with 8's up front (951 offset) and 9's in the rear. I am running 7's and 8's with stock sizes (205/55, 225/50) and they work perfect. Plus there is a large selection to choose from.

Originally Posted by McLovin

The biggest benefit, by far, is cosmetic.

And I agree. If for no other reason, 7's and 8's (or 9's if you so desire) simply look better.

[island911]

Originally Posted by McLovin

The biggest benefit, by far, is cosmetic.

+1

The rest is splitting hairs --not a big deal for most. And if it is a big deal, you'll be soon going to race rubber on different wheels.

I have 7&8's x16 on my 911SC. (w/ OE tire sizes) -a good balance IMO.
Stock sizes for '89 was 6&8's if I recall correctly. The 7's can be a bit tight up front.

You can buy new Fuchs (Porsche just made them available again) but they are over 1k a piece.

[McLovin]

Originally Posted by island911

Stock sizes for '89 was 6&8's if I recall correctly. The 7's can be a bit tight up front.

yes and yes.

[robofc]

I live in Bolinas, and the driving here is the best I have ever experienced. Going over the hill to Mill Valley, either via Panoramic Hwy or Highway 1 through Muir Beach is fantastic. So most of the time I am driving between 30 and 70, linking hairpin corners with lots of elevation changes and pocked roads. I have a 73 911s with 205 55 16 RA1s all the way around. I like how equal tires diminishes understeer in low speed corners. But I know my new 87 Carrera is heavier in back and may need the wider tires in back. The other alternative is some negative camber up front, I suppose.

[bill romero]

It's just looks. Unless you're on the track, you'll never notice a difference. Though it does look good.

[88-diamondblue]

7 & 8 x15 with 205/60 and 215/60 The 7's & 8's were standard on the 76 Turbo.

[Flieger]

Originally Posted by bill romero

It's just looks. Unless you're on the track, you'll never notice a difference. Though it does look good.

But if you are at the track, the sidewalls will not flex so much with wider wheels for a given tire.

[RWebb]

for bumpy roads start with one size and go to "higher" tires if too stiff

be SURE you have new rubber in the suspension - not something 20 years old

[Jimmy18E]

15 x7 & 8s with 225 up front and 235 in rear, rolled fenders and big torsion bars prevent any rubbing what so ever and they fill out the wells really nice.
The car just left the paint shop in the pic and the turn signals & grills are not in yet.

Jimmy

[OZCarrera3]

I did exactly this with my car - went from 6's & 7's to 7's & 8's using the exact same tyres (i.e. didn't buy new tyres, I refitted my existing tyres).

I found that the difference was clearly detectable and that the steering was more responsive and that the car/tyres seemed to move around a lot less on the rims. My understanding is that the wider rims allow the side walls of the tyres to stand more upright or staighter with less 'bagging' (bulging) of the sidewall. This translates into less lateral role on the rim in corners and quicker response to steering inputs.

A friend with an SC found the same results when going to wider rims, but staying with the same aspect ratios and widths.